Maldives Enforces Smoking Ban for Everyone Born After January 2007

The Maldives began enforcing a smoking ban on Saturday for everyone born after January 2007, becoming the only country in the world where tobacco restrictions apply by generation, AFP reported, citing the Ministry of Health.

The measure, initiated earlier this year by President Mohamed Muizzu and effective as of November 1, aims to “protect public health and nurture a tobacco-free generation,” the ministry stated.

“Under the new regulation, individuals born on or after January 1, 2007, are prohibited from purchasing, using, or selling tobacco products in the Maldives,” the statement said. “The ban applies to all types of tobacco, and retailers are required to verify age before making a sale.”

The restriction also applies to visitors to the country. The ministry added that it maintains a comprehensive ban on the import, sale, distribution, storage, and use of electronic cigarettes and vaping products, applicable to all individuals regardless of age. Selling tobacco products to minors is punishable by a fine of 50,000 rufiyaa (about USD 3,200), while using vape devices carries a 5,000 rufiyaa (about USD 320) fine.

A similar generational smoking ban proposed in the United Kingdom is still undergoing the legislative process, while New Zealand, the first country to introduce such a measure, repealed its anti-smoking law in November 2023, less than a year after its implementation.